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OnitJct0itp  of  Jl3ort&  Carolina 


Collection  of  jI2ort&  Caroliniana 

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diocese,  oSr  M.Q,. 


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2)toceee  of  IRortb  Carolina 


Convention  1900 


Hbbreee  of  tbe  Bfebop 


ADDRESS  OF  THE  BISHOP. 


Brethren  of  the  Clergy  and  Laity  : 

Upon  the  invitation  of  the  Rector,  Wardens  and  Vestry- 
men of  St.  Luke's  Church,  Salisbury,  and  in  pursuance  of 
the  authority  vested  in  me,  I  have  called  you  to  meet  in 
this,  one  of  the  oldest  churches  of  the  Diocese.  The  elec- 
tion of  Bishop  Ravenscroft  took  place  in  Salisbury  in  1823, 
though  not  in  this  building,  and  the  Convention  of  1829  was 
held  in  this  very  church  in  which  we  are  now  assembled. 
So,  without  reviving-  the  faint  traditions  of  the  St.  Luke's 
Parish  of  colonial  times,  this  present  organization  and  this 
sacred  edifice  are  among  the  earliest  of  our  existing  Parishes 
and  churches.  Able  and  godly  men  have  here  ministered 
in  holy  things,  and  faithful  and  saintly  lay  people  have 
adorned  the  history  of  this  Parish.  May  we  be  followers 
of  the  holiest  and  best  of  them,  even  as  they  were  followers 
of  Christ ;  and  may  these  memories  of  the  past  stir  us  up  to 
zeal  and  faithfulness  in  our  work  for  God's  Kingdom  and 
glory. 

Again  we  are  called  upon  to  thank  God  for  the  good  ex- 
ample of  one  of  our  brethren  of  the  Clergy,  who  having 
finished  his  course  in  faith  now  rests  from  his  labors.  At 
his  home  in  Tarboro,  in  which  he  had  resided  for  fifty-eight 
years  lacking  a  few  months,  on  the  9th  day  of  September 
last,  fell  on  sleep  Joseph  Blount  Cheshire,  Senior  Priest  of  the 
Diocese  since  the  death  of  Dr.  Wheat  in  1888.  It  will  not 
be  expected  that  I  should  undertake  to  give  here  an  esti- 
mate of  his  character,  or  of  the  value  of  his  life  and  labors 
to  the  Church,  but  1  may  be  pardoned  for  recording  a  few 
facts  in  regard  to  him.  At  the  time  of  his  death  he  lacked 
but  a  few  months  of  completing  the  eighty-fifth  year  of  his 
life  and  the  sixtieth  year  of  his  ministry.  He  came  of  a 
family  on  one  side,  which  had  in  every  generation  furnished 
Vestrymen  and  Wardens  to  the  Parish  in  Edenton  since  the 
first  organization  of  the  Church  in  Albemarle  by  the  Act  of 
170f ;  and  though  about  the  time  of  the  death  of  Mr.  Petti- 
7\        grew  in  1807  his  mother  became,  for  a  time,  a  member  of. 

\n 
d 


*- 


the  Methodist  Society  in  Edenton,  she  brought  up  her  son 
carefully  in  the  Church  Catechism,  and  sent  him  regularly 
to  the  Church  to  be  catechised  after  the  Rev.  Mr.  Avery 
had  come  to  supply  Mr.  Pettigrew's  place.  He  became  a 
communicant  of  the  Church  in  his  very  early  manhood,  and, 
after  a  brief  period  spent  in  the  practice  of  the  law  on  the 
Edenton  circuit,  he  was  ordained  Deacon  by  Bishop  Ives 
when  he  had  just  completed  his  twenty  fifth  year.  His  work 
from  that  time  is  written  in  the  life  of  the  Church  in  this 
Diocese,  and  is  recorded,  so  far  as  such  a.  life  can  be  recorded, 
in  the  registers  of  his  Parishes  and  in  the  Journals  of  our 
Diocesan  Conventions.  It  may  be  worth  mentioning  that 
the  Churchmen  of  his  day  had  a  feeling  for  these  annual  meet- 
ings which  we  have  not  altogether  preserved.  For  thirty- 
five  years  he  never  failed  in  his  attendance.  One  of  the 
privations  of  his  later  years  was  his  inability  to  participate 
in  these  annual  meetings  of  the  brethren  ;  and  the  strongest 
manifestation  of  indignation  and  dissent  he  is  known  ever 
to  have  given  way  to,  was  when  a  Clergyman  in  his  presence 
spoke  offensively  and  injuriously  of  the  Convention  of  the 
Diocese  of  North  Carolina.  He  loved  his  brethren  ;  his 
heart  and  his  house  were  ever  open  to  them.  He  loved  his 
State  and  his  people.  His  greatest  happiness  and  joy,  when 
he  could  no  longer  labor  for  them,  was  the  humble  confi- 
dence that  God  had  enabled  him  to  be  of  some  use  in  build- 
ing up  His  Kingdom,  and  in  declaring  His  Good  Will  to 
men. 

During  the  year  from  May  1,  1899,  to  April  30,  1900,  I 
have  been  able  to  do  more  work  within  the  Diocese  than  in 
any  previous  year.  For  the  first  time  since  the  Missionary 
District  of  Asheville  was  set  off,  I  have  been  entirely 
relieved  of  all  care  of  that  part  of  the  State,  and  have  been 
able  to  devote  myself  entirely  to  our  own  Diocese  proper. 
It  can  not  be  denied  that  the  setting  off  of  Asheville  did  so 
weaken  the  Diocese  as  to  interfere  seriously  with  our  work. 
In  several  respects  we  have  felt  it  as  an  inconvenience.  But 
I  feel  confident  that  this  will  soon  cease  to  be  the  case. 
There  is  a  value  and  a  power  in  concentration.  I  can  point 
to  no  striking  improvement,  but,  quite  unexpectedly  to  my- 
self, I  find  indications  of  increased  vigor  and  interest  as  I 
review  the  year's  labors.  The  following  is  a  brief  account 
of  my  services  and  official  acts  : 

May  1.  The  Feast  of  St.  Philip  and  St.  James  :  In  St.  Peter's  Church, 
Charlotte,  I  administered  the  Holy  Communion  and  made 
an  address. 


May  2.  Attended  annual  meeting  of  the  Board  of  Managers  of  the 
Thompson  Orphanage.  In  the  Orphanage  Chapel  I  admin- 
istered Holy  Communion.  Dr.  Wetmore,  of  Lincolnton, 
preached. 

3  and  4.  Attended  the  Diocesan  Convention  of  South  Carolina,  at  Che- 
raw,  and,  at  the  request  of  Bishop  Capers,  addressed  the 
Convention  upon  the  proposed  adoption  of  St.  Mary's  School, 
Raleigh,  as  the  Diocesan  School  for  girls  of  all  the  Carolina 
Dioceses. 
7.  The  Fifth  Sunday  after  Easter :  In  the  Chapel  of  St.  Mary's 
School,  Raleigh,  confirmed  and  addressed  four  pupils  of  the 
School. 

11.  Ascension  Day :    In  Christ  Church,  Raleigh,  preached  and  ad- 

ministered Holy  Communion. 

12.  In  St.   Paul's  Church,   Louisburg,  preached  and   confirmed 

three  persons. 
14.  Tuesday  after  the  Ascension :    Trinity  Church,  Scotland  Neck, 
preached  and  administered  the  Holy  Communion. 
In  the  afternoon,  in  Grace  Memorial  Chapel,  Lawrence,  said 
Evening  Prayer  and  preached. 

17.  Calvary  Church,  Tarboro.     The  83d  Annual  Convention  of  the 

Diocese.     Celebrated  the  Holy  Communion  at  the  opening 
service  ;  presided  over  the  session  and  officiated  at  the  sev- 
eral services  in  connection  therewith. 
In  the  afternoon  attended  a  meeting  of  the  Trustees  of  St. 
Mary's  School,  Raleigh. 

18.  Administered  Holy  Communion  at  the  opening  of  the  annual 

meeting  of  the  Woman's  Auxiliary. 

19.  Administered  the  Holy  Communion. 

In  the  evening  opened  the  Convention  of  the  Brotherhood  of 
St.  Andrew. 
21.   Whitsunday:    Consecrated  St.  Luke's  Church,  Tarboro,  the 
Parish  Church  of  the  colored  congregation  ;  administered 
the  Holy  Communion  and  confirmed  one  person. 

In  the  Town  Hall :  Presided  at  a  large  public  meeting,  under 
the  auspices  of  the  Brotherhood  of  St.  Andrew  ;  and  in  the 
evening,  in  Calvary  Church,  presided  at  the  closing  service. 

24.  Attended  the  annual  meeting  of  the  Board  of  Trustees  of  St. 

Augustine's  School,  Raleigh. 

25.  Presided  at  the  Commencement  exercises  of  St.  Augustine's 

School.     The  Bishop  of  Georgia  made  an  address. 
28.  Trinity  Sunday:    In  the  Chapel  of  the  Cross,  Chapel  Hill,  ad- 
ministered the  Holy  Communion. 


May  28.  In  the  Chapel  of  the  State  University  I  officiated  at  a  brief 
service  preceding  the  Commencement  Sermon,  which  was 
preached  by  Bishop  Thompson,  of  Mississippi. 
In  the  evening,  in  the  Church  of  the  Good  Shepherd,  Raleigh, 
I  preached. 
31.  Chapel  of  St.  Mary's   School,  Raleigh,  Memorial  Service:    I 
conducted  the  service.     The  Rev.  William  M.  Clark,  of  Vir- 
ginia, made  an  address  upon  the  life  and  character  of  the 
late  Dr.  Bennett  Smedes. 
June  1.  Presided  at  the  Commencement  Exercises  of  St.  Mary's  School, 
and  officiated  at  a  brief  service  in  the  Chapel. 
4.  The  First  Sunday  after   Trinity:      Preached  in   St.   James' 
Church,  Wilmington,  Diocese  of  East  Carolina. 

6.  Met  the  people  of  St.  Peter's  Parish,  Charlotte,  at  a  reception 

at  the  residence  of  Mr.  John  Wilkes,  and  addressed  them 
on  the  subject  of  Diocesan  Missions. 

7.  Meeting  of  Executive  Committee  of  the  Trustees  of  St.  Mary's 

School,  and  inspection  of  the  property  and  buildings. 
8  to  20.  Absent  from  the  Diocese. 

23.  Church  of  the  Epiphany,  Leaksville,  preached. 

24.  St.  John    Bajytist's  Day:     In  the  same  church.      Officiated 

morning  and  evening  ;  administered  the  Holy  Communion 
and  preached. 

25.  Fourth  Sunday  after  Trinity :    Officiated  morning  and  even- 

ing, administered  the  Holy  Communion  and  preached,  and 
had  a  conference  w  ith  the  Vestry  ;  baptized  one  adult  and 
confirmed  two  persons. 

26.  At  Stoneville.     Said  Evening  Prayer. 

27.  Officiated  morning  and  evening,  and  preached. 

28.  Officiated  morning  and  evening,  administered  the  Holy  Com- 

munion and  preached. 
30.  St.  James'  Church,  Iredell  County.     Said  Evening  Prayer. 
July    1.  Same  church.     Said  Evening  Prayer. 

2.  Fifth  Sunday  after  Trinity :    In  the  same  church.     Officiated 

morning  and  afternoon,  administered  the  Holy  Communion 
and  preached  twice. 

3.  In  same  church.     Preached. 

6.  In  Christ  Church  Rowan  County.     Preached. 

8.  In  the  same  church.     Preached,  and  instructed  a  class  of  can- 

didates for  Confirmation. 

9.  Sixth  Sunday  after  Trinity :    In  the  same  church.     Confirmed 

seven  persons,  preached  and  administered  the  Holy  Commu- 
nion. 
13.  In  Trinity  Church,  Portsmouth,  Virginia  ;  took  part  in  the 
Consecration  of  Bishop  Funsten. 


July  15.  Attended  meeting  of  Executive  Committee  of  the  Thompson 
Orphanage,  in  Charlotte. 
16.  Seventh  Sunday  after  Trinity:    In  St.  Peter's  Church,  Char- 
lotte.    Ordained  Royal   Graham  Shannonhouse  a  Deacon  ; 
preached  and  administered  the  Holy  Communion.     Licensed 
the  newly  ordained  Deacon  to  preach. 
The  same  da}-  consecrated  the  Church  of  St.  Michael  and  All 
Angels,  for  colored  people ;  confirmed  three  persons  and  ad- 
ministered the  Holy  Communion. 
17  to  26.  Absent  from  the  Diocese. 

30.  Ninth  Sunday  after  Trinity  :     In  Calvary  Church,  Tarboro. 
Officiated  morning  and  afternoon ;  preached  and  baptized 
an  infant. 
Aug.    6.  Tenth  Sunday  after  Trinity :    Church  of  the  Good  Shepherd, 
Raleigh.     Officiated  morning  and  evening;    preached  and 
administered  the  Holy  Communion. 
9.  In  same  church.     Said  Morning  Prayer. 
11.  Said  Evening  Prayer. 

13.  Officiated  three  times,  preached  and  administered  the  Holy 

Communion. 
16.  Said  Morning  Prayer. 
18.  Said  Evening  Prayer. 
20.  Officiated  three  times,  preached  and  administered  the  Holy 

Communion. 

23.  Said  Morning  Prayer. 

24.  St.  Bartholomew's  Day :    Administered  the  Holy  Communion. 

25.  Said  Evening  Prayer. 

All  my  services  during  August  were  in  the  Church  of    the 
Good  Shepherd.  Raleigh,  where  I  took  the  service  during  the 
absence  of  the  Rector. 
Sept.     3  Fourteenth  Sunday  after  Trinity :    In  St.  James'  Church,  Kit- 
rell.     Conducted  the  usual  service,  preached  and  adminis- 
tered the  Holy  Communion. 
5.  Meeting  of  the  Executive  Missionary  Committee. 
10.  Fifteenth  Sunday  after  Trinity:     Calvary  Church,  Tarboro. 
Administered  the  Holy  Communion  at  the  early  service, 
preached  at  midday,  and  in  the  afternoon  officiated  at  the 
funeral  of  my  father,  assisted  by  the  Bishop  of  East  Caro- 
lina and  other  Clergymen. 

14.  All  Souls'  Church,  Ansonville.     Preached  twice  and  confirmed 

six  persons. 

15.  Confirmed  a  sick  person,  in  private,  belonging  to  the  same 

congregation. 
In  the  evening,  in  Calvary  Church,  Wadesboro,  preached  and 
confirmed  three  persons. 


6 

Sept  17.  Sixteenth  Sunday  after  Trinity:    In  the  Court  House  at  Lil- 
lington,   I  officiated   morning  and   evening  and  preached 
twice. 
So  far  as  I  could  learn,  this  was  the  first  time  a  Bishop  had 
visited  this  place,  and  the  first  time  the  services  of  the  Church 
were  held  here. 
20.  St.  Ambrose  Church,  Raleigh.     Preached  and  confirmed,  six 
persons. 
.      23.  St.  Philip's  Church,  Mocksville.     Preached. 

24.  Seventeenth  Sunday  after  Trinity :    In  the  same  church.   Offi- 
ciated morning  and  afternoon,  preached  and  administered 
the  Holy  Communion,  and  confirmed  one  person. 
Being  taken  sick  at  this  point,  I  was  compelled  to  return  home, 
and  was  confined  to  my  room  for  two  weeks. 
Oct.  10.  St.  Thomas'  Church,  Reidsville.     Preached. 

11.  Gallaway  Memorial  Chapel,  Elkin.     Preached  and  confirmed 
and  addressed  two  persons. 

13.  Christ    Church.    Walnut    Cove.      Confirmed    four    persons ; 

preached  and  administered  the  Holy  Communion. 

14.  St.  Philip's  Church,  Germanton.     Preached  and  administered 

the  Holy  Communion. 

15.  Twentieth  Sunday  after  Trinity :     In  the  Church  at  Mt.  Airy, 

officiated   morning   and  evening ;    confirmed   two  persons, 
preached  twice  and  administered  the  Holy  Communion. 
21  to  28.  Absent  from  the  Diocese  attending  the  Missionary  Council  in 
St.  Louis,  where  I  made  an  address. 

29.  Tioenty- second  Sunday  after  Trinity :     Attended  the  services 

in  connection  with  the  25th  anniversary  of  the  Church  of 
the  Good  Shepherd,  Raleigh  ;  presided  at  the  Sunday  School 
celebration  in  the  afternoon,  and  made  an  address  and  took 
part  in  the  services  at  night. 

30.  Presided  at  a  public  meeting  in  connection  with  the  same  an- 

niversary, also  attended  meeting  of  the  Convocation  of  Ral- 
eigh in  this  church. 

31.  Meeting  of  the  Convocation  of  Raleigh  in  the  same  church ; 

administered  the  Holy  Communion. 
Nov.    1.  All  Saints'  Day:    Church  of   the   Good  Shepherd,  Raleigh. 
Parish  Memorial  Services  ;  administered  the  Holy  Commu- 
nion. 

Laid  the  corner-stone  of  the  new  Parish  Church  of  the  Good 
Shepherd,  assisted  by  a  number  of  the  Clergy  and  in  the 
presence  of  a  large  concourse  of  people. 

In  the  evening  attended  a  meeting  of  the  Executive  Commit- 
tee of  St.  Mary's  School. 


Nov.  5.  Twenty-Third  Sunday  after  Trinity:    Church  of  the  Saviour, 
Jackson.     Preached  morning  and  evening  ;  confirmed  two 
persons  and  administered  the  Holy  Communion. 
In  the  afternoon  preached  in  a  school  house  at  Seaboard. 

7.  Grace  Church,  Welclon.     Preached  and  confirmed  five  persons. 

8.  Church  of  the  Advent,  Weldon.     Preached. 

10.  St.    Clement's  Church,   Ringwood.     Said   the  usual  service, 

preached  and  administered  the  Holy  Communion. 

11.  Inspected  the  Mission  School  for  colored  children  at  Littleton. 

12.  Twenty-fourth  Sunday  after   Trinity :    Chapel  of   the  Cross, 

Littleton.     In  the  absence  of  the  minister,  I  said  the  usual 
service,  baptized  two  infants,  confirmed  one  person,  preached 
and  administered  the  Holy  Communion. 
The  same  day,  in  the  Chapel  of  the  colored  congregation,  I 
said  Evening  Prayer,  preached  and  confirmed  two  persons. 

14.  St.  Luke's  Church.  Gaston.     Said  Morning  Prayer,  confirmed 

one  person,  preached  and  administered  the  Holy  Commu- 
nion. 

15.  Emmanuel  Church,  Warrenton.     Preached  and  confirmed  one 

person. 

16.  Church  of    the   Good   Shepherd,   Ridgeway.     Preached   and 

administered  the  Holy  Communion. 
In  the  afternoon,  in  St.  Luke's  Chapel  for  colored  people,  War- 
ren County,  said  Evening  Prayer,  preached  and  confirmed 
one  person. 

17.  Church  of  the  Heavenly  Rest,  Middleburg.     Confirmed  one 

person,  preached  and  administered  the  Holy  Communion. 

19.  Twenty-fifth  Sunday  after  Trinity:  St.  John's  Church,  Wil- 
liamsboro.  Confirmed  three  persons,  preached  and  admin- 
istered the  Holy  Communion. 

21.  St.  Peter's  Church,  Stovall.  Confirmed  one  person,  preached 
and  administered  the  Holy  Communion. 

23.  St.  Paul's  Church,  Goshen.     Said  the  usual  service,  confirmed 

two  persons,  preached  and  administered  the  Holy  Com- 
munion. 

24.  Chapel  for  colored  people,  Satterwhite.     Said  Morning  Prayer, 

baptized  one  adult  and  two  infants,  examined  candidates 
for  confirmation,  confirmed  six  persons  and  addressed  them, 
preached  and  administered  the  Holy  Communion. 

26.  Sunday  next  before  Advent:    St.  Stephen's  Church.  Oxford. 

Preached  morning  and  evening,  confirmed  and  addressed 
seven  persons,  and  administered  the  Holy  Communion. 

27.  Church  of  the  Holy  Innocents.  Henderson.     Preached,  con- 

firmed twelve  persons  and  addressed  them. 

28.  St.  James'  Church,  Kittrell.     Confirmed  one  person,  preached 

and  administered  the  Holy  Communion. 


Nov.  30.  St.  Andrew's  Day  and  Thanksgiving  Day:     Church  of   the 
Good  Shepherd,  Raleigh.     The  Rector  being  sick  I  celebrated 
*  the  Holy  Communion  at  the  early  service  for  the  Brother- 

hood of  St.  Andrew,  and  at  midday  service  preached. 
Dec.     3.  First  Sunday  in  Advent:    St.  Matthew's  Church,  Hillsboro. 
Confirmed  one  person,  preached  and  administered  the  Holy 
Communion. 
In    the    evening    in    St.    Athanasius'    Church,    Burlington, 
preached  and  confirmed  nine  persons,  and  addressed  them. 
4.  In  the  same  church.     Preached,  and  after  the  service  had  a 
conference  with  the  congregation  and  vestry,  also  with  the 
Rector,  in  regard  to  the  condition  and  interests  of  the  Parish. 
10.  Second  Sunday  in  Advent :     In  a  public  hall  in  Smithfield,  I 
said  the  service  for  the  day  and  preached. 
In  the  evening,  in  the  public  academy  at  Selma,  I  baptized  an 
adult,  said  Evening  Prayer,  preached  and  confirmed  three 
persons. 

14.  Trinity  Church,  Statesville.    Confirmed  nine  persons,  preached 

and  administered  the  Holy  Communion. 

15.  St.  Peter's  Chapel,  Salisbury.      Preached  and  confirmed  one 

person. 

16.  St.  Jude's  Chapel,  Rowan  County.     Confirmed  two  persons, 

preai  hed  and  administered  the  Holy  Communion. 

17.  Third  Sunday  in  Advent :  St.  Luke's  Church,  Salisbury.    Con- 

firmed four  persons,  preached  and  administered  the  Holy 

Communion. 
In   the  afternoon,   in   St.    Mary's    Church,   Rowan  County, 

preached,  and  confirmed  and  addressed  four  persons. 
In  the  evening,  in  St.  Paul's  Church,  Chestnut  Hill,  preached. 
19.  Church  of    the   Redemption,  Lexington.       Confirmed  three 

persons,  preached  and  administered  the  Holy  Communion. 

24.  Christ  Church,  Raleigh.     In  the  absence  of  the  Rector,  I  said 

the  usual  service  and  preached. 
In  the  evening,  in  a  public  hall  in  Cary,  I  said  Evening  Prayer, 
preached  and  confirmed  four  persons. 

25.  Christmas  Day.      Church  of    the  Good  Shepherd,  Raleigh, 

Preached  and  administered  the  Holy  Communion. 
27.  In  Christ  Church  Chapel.     Made  an  address. 
31.  Sunday  after  Christmas:    Church  of  the  Good  Shepherd,  Ral- 
eigh.    In  the  absence  of  the  Rector  took  the  service  morn- 
ing and  evening,  preached  twice. 
1900. 
Jan.     1.  Feast  of  the  Circumcision:    Church  of  the  Good  Shepherd, 
Raleigh.    Administered  the  Holy  Communion  in  the  absence 
the  Rector. 


9 

Jan.  6.  Feast  of  the  Epiphany :  Church  of  the  Good  Shepherd,  Ral- 
eigh. Conducted  a  service  of  intercession  for  Missions, 
with  the  Parochial  Branch  of  the  Woman's  Auxiliary,  and 
administered  the  Holy  Communion. 
7.  First  Sunday  after  the  Epiphany:  St.  Philip's  Church,  Dur- 
ham. Confirmed  twelve  persons,  preached  and  adminis- 
tered the  Holy  Communion. 

In  the  afternoon,  in  the  same  church,  at  a  special  service  for 
colored  people,  I  preached  and  confirmed  one  person. 

St.  Barnabas'  Church,  Greensboro.     The  evening  of  the  same 
day,  I  preached  and  confirmed  three  persons. 
10.  In  Christ  Church,  Raleigh.     Pronounced  the  benediction  at  a 
wedding. 

From  January  10  to  February  13  I  was  absent  from  the  Dio- 
cese, attending  a  meeting  of  the  Commission  on  Colored 
Work,  in  Washington  City,  and  committee  business  of  the 
General  Convention  in  New  York  City,  and  making  ad- 
dresses upon  Domestic  Missions,  and  also  upon  work  among 
the  negroes  in  the  South. 
Feb.  13.  Grace  Church,  Weldon.  Attended  meeting  of  the  Convoca- 
tion of  Tarboro,  and  officiated  at  the  public  service. 

14.  In  the  same  church.     Preached  and  administered  the  Holy 

Communion. 
In  the  evening,  in  St.  Mark's  Church,  Halifax.     Preached  and 
confirmed  one  person. 

15.  In  the  Chapel  at  Tillery.     Confirmed  one  person,  preached 

and  administered  the  Holy  Communion. 
In  the  evening,  in  Trinity  Church,  Scotland  Neck.     Preached 

and  confirmed  three  persons. 
18.  Sexagesima  Sunday:    Calvary  Church,  Tarboro.     Confirmed 

thirteen  persons  and  addressed  them,  preached  and  admin- 
istered the  Holy  Communion. 
In  the  afternoon,  in  St.  Mary's  Chapel,  Edgecombe  County. 

Preached  and  confirmed  one  person. 
In  the  evening,  in  St.  Luke's  Church.  Tarboro.     Preached  and 

confirmed  four  persons. 
20.  Grace  Memorial  Chapel,  Lawrence.     Confirmed  two  persons, 

preached  and  administered  the  Holy  Communion. 

22.  St.  John's  Church,  Battleboro.     Preached  and  confirmed  two 

persons. 

23.  In  the  same  Church.     Preached  and  administered  the  Holy 

Communion. 
Church  of  the  Good  Shepherd,  Rocky  Mount,  the  evening  of 
the  same  day.     Preached  and  confirmed  eight  persons,  and 
addressed  them. 


10 

Feb.  24.  St.  Matthias'  Day.     Administered  the  Holy  Communion. 

25.  Quinquagesima  Sunday.   St.  Timothy's  Church,  Wilson.  Con- 

firmed three  persons  and  addressed  them,  preached  and  ad- 
ministered the  Holy  Communion. 
In   the  evening,   in   St.    Mark's   Chapel  for  colored  people. 
Preached  and  confirmed  seven  persons,  and  addressed  them. 

26.  Attended   meeting  of    Executive  Committee  of   St.    Mary's 

School,  Raleigh. 
Mar.     1.  Attended  meeting  of  the  Executive  Committee  of  St.  Augus- 
tine's School. 

2.  All  Saints'  Chapel  for  colored  people,  Warrenton.     Preached 

and  confirmed  two  persons. 

3.  Emmanuel  Church,   Warrenton.     At  a  special  service  con- . 

firmed  two  persons. 

4.  First  Sunday  in  Lent :  St.  Paul's  Church,  Louisburg.  Preached 

and  administered  the  Holy  Communion. 
In  the  evening,  in  St.  Matthias'  Church  for  the  colored  people. 
Preached. 

7.  Christ  Church,  Raleigh.     Said  Evening  Prayer. 

8.  In  same  church.     Said  Morning  Prayer. 

Attended  meeting  of  the  Executive  Committee  of  St.  Augus- 
tine's School. 

11.  Second  Sunday  in  Lent:    Chapel  of  the  Cross,  Chapel  Hill. 

Preached  morning  and  evening,  confirmed  eight  persons  and 
administered  the  Holy  Communion. 

12.  Attended  meeting  of    Executive   Committee  of  St.    Mary's 

School. 

13.  Emmanuel  Church,   Southern  Pines.      Preached,  and   con- 

firmed and  addressed  two  persons. 

14.  Consecrated  Emmanuel  Church,  Southern   Pines,  and  cele- 

brated the  Holy  Communion. 
In  the  afternoon  attended  a  meeting  of  the  Convocation  of 
Charlotte. 

15.  St.  Thomas'  Church,  Sanford.     Preached. 

18.  Third  Sunday  in  Lent :  St.  Bartholomew's  Church,  Pittsboro. 

Preached  and  administered  the  Holy  Communion. 
In  the   evening,   in  St.   James'   Chapel  for  colored  people. 
Preached  and  confirmed  one  person. 

19.  Attended  meeting  of  the'Executive  Committee  of  St.  Augus- 

tine's School. 
25.  Fourth  Simday  in  Lent:    Cuningham's    Chapel.     Confirmed 
one  person,  preached  and  administered  the  Holy  Commu- 
nion. 
In  the  evening,  in  Christ  Church,  Milton.     Preached. 


11 


Mar.  27.  All  Saints'  Church,  Concord.  Preached  morning  and  evening, 
confirmed  two  persons  in  the  church  and  a  sick  woman  in 
private,  preached  twice  and  administered  the  Holy  Com- 
munion. 

28.  St.  Mary's  Church.  High  Point.      Said  Evening  Prayer  and 

preached. 

29.  St.  Mary's  Chapel,  Greensboro.     Made  an  address. 

St.  Andrew's  Church,  Greensboro.  Preached  and  confirmed 
five  persons,  including  one  from  St.  Barnabas'  Church. 

30.  In  the  Chapel  at  Mayodan.  Said  Evening  Prayer  and  preached. 

31.  St.  John's  Church,  Madison.     Said  the  usual  service,  confirmed 

two  persons,  preached  and  administered  the  Holy  Commu- 
nion. 
April  1.  Fifth  Sunday  in  Lent:  St.  Paul's  Church,  Winston.  The 
Parish  being  vacant,  I  took  the  service  morning  and  even- 
ing, preached  twice,  administered  the  Holy  Communion, 
instructed  and  examined  candidates  for  baptism  and  con- 
i  firmation,  baptized  one  adult  and  confirmed  five  persons. 

2.  Huntsville,  Yadkin  County.     Preached. 

3.  At  the  same  place.     Confirmed  one  person,  preached  and  ad- 

ministered the  Holy  Communion. 

4.  Gallaway  Memorial  Chapel,  Elkin.     Preached  and  confirmed 

one  person. 

8.  Palm  Sunday :   Christ  Church,  Raleigh.    Confirmed  seven  per- 

sons, and  addressed  them;  preached,  and  administered  the 

Holy  Communion. 
In  the   afternoon  in  the  Chapel  of    St.  Augustine's  School. 

Preached;  confirmed  eight  persons  and  addressed  them. 
In  the  evening  in  St.  Saviour's  Chapel.     Said  Evening  Prayer 

and  preached. 

9.  Christ  Church,  Raleigh.     Morning  Prayer,  and  the  Ante-Com- 

munion.    Attended  meeting  of  Executive  Committee  of  St. 
Mary's  School. 

10.  In  same  church.     Took  the  morning  services. 

11.  In  same  church.     Took  the  morning  services. 

12.  In  the  same  church.     Took  the  morning  services. 

In  Christ  Church,  Raleigh,  in  the  presence  of  the  Rev.  Dr, 
Marshall,  the  Rev.  Archdeacon  Pollard,  and  the  Rev.  Mr. 
Hunter,  Presbyters  of  this  Diocese,  I  deposed  from  the  Holy 
Ministry  Merritt  H.  Hinton,  a  colored  Deacon,  transferred 
to  me  last  fall  from  the  Diocese  of  Mississippi. 

13.  Good  Friday:    In  the  same  church.     I  took  the  services,  as- 

sisted by  the  Rev.  Dr.  Marshall. 

14.  Easter  Even. :  In  the  same  church.  Took  the  morning  services. 


12 

April  15.  Easter  Day :    St.  Ambrose  Church,  Raleigh.     Confirmed  ten 
persons,  preached  and  administered  the  Holy  Communion. 
In  the  afternoon  in  the  Chapel  of  St.  Mary's  School.     Con- 
firmed eleven  persons  and  addressed  them. 
In  the  evening  in  the  Church  of  the  Good  Shepherd.  Raleigh. 
Preached,  confirmed  thirteen  persons,  and  addressed  them. 
17  to  20.  Absent  from  the  Diocese  attending  meeting  of  Commission  on 
Work  Among  the  Colored  People,  and  also  meeting  of  the 
House  of  Bishops  in  New  York  City. 

21.  Mission  at  Laurel  Hill.     Preached. 

22.  First  Sunday  after  Easter :  Mission  at  Rockingham.  Preached. 

23.  Calvary  Church,  Wadesboro.    Confirmed  one  person,  preached 

and  administered  the  Holy  Communion. 
In  the  evening  in  All  Souls'  Church,  Ansonville.  preached. 

24.  Mission  at  Euto,  Union  County.    Confirmed  seven  persons  and 

addressed  them;  preached  and  administered  the  Holy  Com- 
munion. 

25.  St.  Mark's  Day :    St.  Paul's  Church.  Monroe.     Administered 

the  Holy  Communion :  in  the  evening,  preached  and  con- 
firmed one  person. 

26.  At  Mount  Mourns,  Iredell  Covmty.     Baptized  an  infant  and 

preached. 

28.  St.  Mark's  Church,  Mecklenburg  County.     Confirmed  five  per- 

sons and  addressed  them ;  preached  and  administered  the 
Holy  Communion. 

29.  Second  Sunday  after  Easter :    St.  Peter's  Church,  Charlotte. 

Confirmed  and  addressed  ten  persons ;  preached  and  admin- 
istered the  Holy  Communion. 
In  the  afternoon,  in  the  Church  of  St.  Michael  and  All  Angels, 
Charlotte.     Preached;  confirmed  and  addressed  ten  persons. 

30.  In  St.  Peter's  Church,  Charlotte.     Baptized  an  infant. 

Besides  the  services  within  the  Diocese,  I  officiated  a  num- 
ber of  times  in  other  Dioceses.  It  should  also  be  mentioned 
that,  acting  at  my  request.  Bishop  Thompson  confirmed  one 
person  in  the  Chapel  of  the  Cross,  Chapel  Hill,  last  May; 
Bishop  Horner  one  in  St.  Philip's  Church.  Durham,  last 
September,  and  Bishop  Watson  seven  in  St.  Athanasius' 
Church,  Burlington,  on  the  evening  of  Easter  Day. 

The  total  of  Episcopal  services  and  ministrations  is  as 
follows : 

Public  services — within  the  Diocese,  190;  without.  15 205 

Holy  Communion — within  the  Diocese,  71;  without,     2 73 

Sermons — within  the  Diocese,  129;  without,  14 143 

Addresses — within  the  Diocese.  32;  without.     7... 39 


13 

Baptisms — adults,  4;  infants,  7 11 

Funerals . 1 

Marriages 1 

Churches  consecrated 3 

Ordinations 1 

Confirmations — by  myself,  308;  by  other  Bishops,  9 317 

March  7th,  upon  a  petition  of  certain  inhabitants  of  the 
factory  town  of  Mayodan.  in  Buckingham  County,  I  organ- 
ized the  petitioners  and  such  other  persons  as  might  be 
associated  with  them  into  a  Mission  of  this  Diocese  under 
the  name  of  "  The  Church  of  the  Messiah,  Mayodan" ;  ap- 
pointing as  officers  Jacob  Ueltschi,  Warden,  and  Seabury 
I.  Daniel,  Clerk  and  Treasurer. 

March  16th,  upon  a  petition  of  certain  colored  persons, 
inhabitants  of  the  town  of  Wilson,  accompanied  by  the 
written  consent  of  the  Rector  of  St.  Timothy's  Church.  Wil- 
son, I  organized  the  petitioners  and  such  other  persons  as 
might  be  associated  with  them,  into  a  Mission  of  this  Dio- 
cese under  the  name  of  u  St.  Mark's  Church,  Wilson"; 
appointing  as  officers  John  Boykin,  Warden  ;  Joseph  Palmer, 
Treasurer,  and  John  II.  Clark,  Clerk. 

December  11th  I  gave  my  canonical  consent  to  the  sale 
by  the  Vestry  of  the  lot  heretofore  occupied  by  St.  Barna- 
bas' Parish  Church,  Greensboro,  the  Parish  having  acquired 
a  more  desirable  lot. 

I  would  remind  the  Clergy  and  Laity  that  the  Bishop's 
consent  is  required  before  Church  property  can  be  sold. 

We  have  gained  the  following  Clergymen  : 

Rev.  Royal  Graham  Shannonhouse,  ordained  July  16,  1899. 

Rev.  Merritt  H.  Hinton,  transferred  from  Mississippi  September  1.1899. 

Rev.  Edward  P.  Green,  transferred  from  East  Carolina  May  1,  1900. 

We  lave  lost  the  following  : 

Rev.  Jos.  Blount  Cheshire,  D.D.,  died  September  9,  1899. 

Rev.  John  Francis  George,  transferi'ed  to  Connecticut  September 
15, 1899. 

Rev.  Henry  M.  Joseph,  transferred  to  London.  England.  March  8, 1900. 

Rev.  Martin  L.  Poffenberger,  transferred  to  Washington,  April  14, 
1900. 

And  Merritt  H.  Hinton,  deposed  April  12,  1900. 

Our  whole  number  is  now  50 — 1  Bishop,  41  Priests  and 
8  Deacons. 


14 

The  Candidates  for  Priest's  Orders  are  :  The  Rev.  Gaston 
Battle,  Deacon  ;  the  Rev.  Royal  G.  Sbannonhouse,  Deacon, 
and  Win.  B.  Crittenden. 

The  Candidates  for  Deacon's  Orders  the  same  as  last  year : 
William  Thomas  Bost  and  John  Linker  Saunders. 

The  Postulants  are  Alfred  J.  Griffith,  Isaac  N.  Neal, 
Benjamin  Turner  Thompson,  Oliver  Stancill,  Thaddeus 
Ainsley  Cheatham  and  Edmund  Brodie  Taylor. 

There  have  been  the  following  changes  in  the  fields  of 
labor  of  the  Clergy  : 

The  Rev.  James  B.  Avirett,  in  consequence  of  physical 
infirmity,  has  felt  obliged  to  resign  the  Parishes  of  St.  Paul's 
Louisburg,  and  St.  James',  Kittrell.  The  Rev.  Alban 
Greaves  is  filling  those  Parishes  most  acceptably,  but  in 
consequence  of  some  question  as  to  a  previous  transfer  from 
East  Carolina,  he  has  not  as  yet  been  able  to  procure  a  let- 
ter dimissory. 

The  Rev.  Thomas  B.  Bailey  I  have  transferred  from  Con- 
cord, where  the  Mission  of  the  Holy  Comforter  and  the 
work  among  the  colored  people  have  been  suspended,  to 
Statesville,  where  he  is  carrying  on  a  most  hopeful  work, 
and  is  preparing  to  build  this  summer  a  chapel  and  school 
house  for  our  Mission  among  the  colored  people. 

The  Rev.  Charles  Fetter,  after  having  labored  four  years 
most  faithfully  and  effectively  in  the  very  extensive  field 
committed  to  him,  has  yielded  to  the  desire  of  the  Parish 
at  Rocky  Mount,  and  the  first  of  the  current  month  becomes 
Rector  of  the  Church  of  the  Good  Shepherd  in  that  growing 
town,  resigning  the  charge  of  Calvary  Church,  Wadesboro, 
and  the  Missions  at  Ansonville,  Rockingham  and  Laurel 
Hill.  There  is  a  good  prospect,  however,  of  making  excel- 
lent arrangements  for  carrying  on  the  important  work  in 
these  places  at  an  early  day. 

The  Rev.  John  Francis  George  has  resigned  St.  Paul's 
Church,  Winston,  and  taken  letters  dismissory  to  the  Dio- 
cese of  Connecticut.  This  important  Parish  remains  still 
without  a  Rector.  The  Vestry  have  been  making  earnest 
efforts  to  secure  a  suitable  person,  and  in  the  meantime  the 
services  are  maintained  and  the  congregations  kept  together 
by  the  faithful  labors  of  two  Lay  Readers.  At  my  visitation 
to  this  Parish  the  fifth  Sunday  in  Lent  I  was  much  grati- 
fied by  the  evidences  I  observed  of  life  and  zeal  in  the 
Parish. 

The  Rev.  Henry  C.  Parkman  has  given  up  the  work  at 
St.  Mark's,  Mecklenburg  County,  and  St.  Andrew's  Chapel, 


15 

Charlotte;  and  in  addition  to  his  work  at  Monroe  has  been 
carrying  on  a  most  interesting  and  successful  mission  near 
Euto  in  the  northeastern  section  of  Union  County.  It  is 
my  purpose  also  to  commit  to  his  charge  one  of  the  Mis- 
sions formerly  under  charge  of  Rev.  Charles  Fetter. 

The  Rev.  Girard  W.  Phelps,  Rector  of  Trinity  Church, 
Scotland  Neck,  has  been  relieved  of  the  care  of  the  two 
Missions  in  Edgecombe  County — Grace  Memorial  Chapel 
and  St.  Mary's — in  order  that  he  may  have  more  time  for 
his  important  parochial  work,  and  for  the  Missions  adjacent 
thereto  in  Halifax  County;  and  those  two  Edgecombe  Mis- 
sions have  been  placed  under  the  care  of  the  Rector  of  Cal- 
vary Church,  Tarboro. 

The  Rev.  William  T.  Picard,  on  account  of  physical 
infirmity,  has  been  relieved  of  the  charge  of  St.  Luke's, 
Gaston. 

The  Rev.  Alclred  A.  Pruden  has,  since  the  first  of  Febru- 
ary, been  laboring  most  earnestly  and  successfully  as 
Financial  Agent  of  the  Trustees  of  St.  Mary's  School. 

In  addition  to  St.  Mark's,  Halifax,  and  the  Church  of  the 
Advent,  Enfield,  the  Rev.  Louis  H.  Schubert  has  become 
Rector  of  St.  Clement's  Church,  Ringwood. 

The  Rev.  Thomas  Lee  Trott,  Deacon,  continues  his  work 
in  the  Rowan  Parishes  and  Missions,  under  direction  of  the 
Rev.  Dr.  Murdoch  ;  but  St.  James',  Iredell  County,  Trinity 
Church,  Statesville,  and  St.  Philip's,  Mocksville,  have  been 
put  under  the  care  of  the  Rev.  Royal  G.  Shannonhouse, 
Deacon,  who  is  serving  them  most  faithfully  and  acceptably 
under  the  direction  of  the  Rev.  Edwin  A.  Osborne. 

The  Rev.  James  H.  Williams  was,  at  his  earnest  request, 
relieved  of  the  care  of  the  Missions  under  his  charge  in 
Rockingham  County,  Mayodan  and  Stoneville ;  and  these 
Missions  have  been  assigned  to  the  Rev.  Fred'k  A.  Fetter. 
Mr.  Williams  remains  in  charge  of  all  the  Missions  in  Stokes 
and  Surry  Counties. 

The  Rev.  Edward  P.  Green,  transferred  from  East  Caro- 
lina, has  been  placed  in  charge  of  All  Souls'  Mission,  Anson- 
ville,  and  will  extend  his  labors  into  Stanley  and  Montgomery 
Counties,  holding  services  at  Norwood,  Albemarle,  Troy 
and  such  other  points  as  may  seem  to  offer  openings  for 
work. 

DIOCESAN    MISSIONS. 

In  connection  with  this  subject,  I  wish  to  call  the  atten- 
tion of  the  Convention  to  the  work  of  the  Rev.  Mr.  Osborne 


16 

as  Secretary  of  the  Executive  Missionary  Committee. 
Something  over  a  year  ago  Mr.  Osborne  began  this  work. 
The  chief  idea  the  Committee  had  in  appointing  him  was 
that  his  efforts  might  increase  the  contributions  to  this 
work.  To  a  certain  extent  he  has  interested  people  and  in- 
creased their  contributions.  It  must  be  admitted,  however, 
that  this  has  not  been  to  the  extent  hoped  for  by  the  Com- 
mittee. But  Mr.  Osborne's  work  has  been  useful  and 
helpful  in  other  ways,  and,  in  my  judgment,  the  best  thing 
we  can  now  do  for  the  advancement  of  our  missionary 
work  is  to  make  this  feature  of  his  work  permanent,  and  to 
give  moral  force  and  influence  to  it  by  providing  for  an. 
Archdeacon  to  have  the  oversight,  under  the  Bishop,  of  all 
the  missionary  operations  of  the  Diocese.  In  case  a  Bishop 
Coadjutor  had  not  been  elected  by  our  Convention  of  1893, 
it  was  the  intention  of  Bishop  Lyman  to  have  appointed  an 
Archdeacon  over  the  missionary  work  among  the  white  peo- 
ple of  the  Diocese,  just  as  we  already  have  an  Archdeacon 
over  the  missionaries  among  the  colored  people ;  and  before 
the  meeting  of  our  Convention  of  May,  1893.  he  wrote  to 
me  saying  that  he  wished  me  to  undertake  that  work.  I 
am  quite  aware  that  it  may  be  replied  that  the  Bishop  him- 
self should  be  Archdeacon — -that  is,  that  he  should  superin- 
tend the  missionary  work.  I  deeply  feel  the  truth  ot  this, 
and  I  have,  to  the  best  of  my  endeavors,  done  this.  I  have 
just  gone  carefully  over  my  journal,  and  I  And  that  during 
the  year  covered  by  this  report  1  have  given  about  nine 
months  to  work  within  the  limits  of  this  Diocese.  Consid- 
ering the  other  important  duties  of  my  office  and  the  neces- 
sity for  some  periods  of  rest  from  time  to  time.  I  can  not 
hope  ever  to  do  much  more  than  this.  I  have  devoted  some 
weeks  to  holding  series  of  services  in  different  Missions  and 
weak  country  Parishes,  and  I  hope  to  do  more  of  this  in  the 
future.  So  far  as  possible  I  endeavor  to  keep  in  close  per- 
sonal relations  with  the  missionaries  and  their  work.  But 
I  can  do  very  little  of  what  needs  to  be  done.  We  have, 
for  example,  ten  or  a  dozen  Missions  or  decayed  Parishes 
under  no  Clergyman  at  all.  Some  of  these  I  hope  to  supply 
soon  ;  but  others  will  be  falling  vacant.  There  are  always  a 
number  of  such  stations.  Then  again,  there  are  a  still  larger 
number  which  are  nominally  under  a  Clergyman,  but  to 
which  he  can  not  give  any  proper  care.  For  example,  be- 
sides his  five  points  which  he  has  served  faithfully  and 
regularly,  I  have  recently  assigned  to  the  Rev.  Fred'k  A. 
Fetter  the  additional  Missions  at  Mavodan  and  at  Stone- 


17 

ville.  Besides  these  places,  already  occupied  but  not  tended, 
we  ought  to  be  looking  out  for  points  at  which  to  begin 
new  work.  One  year  with  another,  the  Bishop  can  not  visit 
these  weak  stations  and  new  points  more  than  once  each 
year;  and  wnen  he  makes  his  one  annual  visit,  unless  he 
has  sent  a  man  before  to  make  inquiries  and  arrangements, 
to  seek  out  and  instruct  candidates  for  confirmation,  and 
to  do  such  preparatory  work,  the  most  he  can  accom- 
plish is  to  see  that  something  might  be  done  if  there  were  a 
man  to  do  it.  Then  we  have  Mission  Schools  which  should 
be  inspected  oftener  than  I  can  possibly  visit  them.  During 
the  past  year  the  Rev.  Mr.  Osborne  has  been  doing  this  kind 
of  work  diligently  and  successfully,  and  has  been  of  very 
material  help  to  me — noi  by  relieving  me  of  work,  but  by 
preparing  work  for  me  and  getting  it  into  such  a  condition 
that  I  could  do  it.  Much  as  I  should  dislike  to  drop  any 
missionary  from  our  list,  I  am  fully  persuaded  that  one  man 
doing1  this  general  work  is  of  more  value  than  two  or  three 
men  confined  to  narrow  missionary  fields. 

We  need  money  to  support  our  missionaries,  but  most  of 
all  we  need  to  keep  the  work  going  on.  The  work  itself 
makes  the  most  successful  appeal  for  support.  The  past 
year's  experience  has  shown  me  the  extreme  importance  to 
our  work  of  having  some  one  whom  I  may  send  with  au- 
thority oftener  than  it  is  possible  for  me  to  go  myself,  and 
who  may  stir  up  both  our  lay  people  and  our  missionaries, 
and  who  may  help  both  by  his  sympathy  and  advice. 
Many  of  my  most  interesting  and  encouraging  visitations 
during  the  past  year  have  been  made  to  Parishes  and  Mis- 
sions, and  even  in  entirely  new  places,  where  I  had  sent 
Mr.  Osborne  some  days  or  weeks  before  me  to  make  prepa- 
ration for  my  coming. 

[  can  not  close  this  part  of  my  address  without  referring 
to  our  Mission  Schools,  in  which  I  am  deeply  interested. 
Last  year  I  nominated  to  the  Board  of  Managers  three 
women  workers,  to  be  supported  by  the  "'"United  Offering'1'' 
of  the  Woman's  Auxiliary  of  1898,  and  to  work  under  me 
in  our  missionary  field.  They  were  appointed  and  assigned 
stipends,  and  I  have  placed  them  as  follows :  Miss  Nannie  H. 
Smith  as  Mission  teacher  in  St.  James'  Parish,  Iredell 
County;  Mrs.  Anna  M.  Chisholm  to  be  Mission  teacher  at 
Mayodan  ;  and  Miss  Florida  Foxhall  to  be  Mission  teacher 
in  St.  Mark's  Mission,  Mecklenburg  County.  They  have  all 
three  proved  themselves  most  excellent  workers,  and  are 
doing  a  noble  work.     But  I  have  been  especially  gratified 


18 

at  the  way  in  which  the  people  of  St.  James',  Iredell,  and 
of  St.  Mark's,  Mecklenburg,  have  responded  to  this  effort 
on  their  behalf.  At  both  Churches  convenient  and  commo- 
dious school  houses  have  been  built,  and  the  attendance  and 
interest  have  been  so  great  that  an  additional  teacher  will 
probably  have  to  be  employed  next  fall,  and- in  both  cases 
it  is  hoped  that  the  small  charge  made  to  cover  fuel  and  in- 
cidentals will  suffice  also  for  the  support  of  the  additional 
teacher.  The  grant  for  the  support  of  these  "  women 
workers"  is  only  for  three  years  from  September,  1899,  but 
it  is  hoped  that  before  the  expiration  of  this  period  local 
interest  ma}^  provide  for  the  continuance  of  the  school  as  a 
regular  branch  of  the  Church  work. 

Another  subject  also  demands  a  word  from  me  while  I 
am  speaking  of  our  Diocesan  Missions.  It  is  impossible  for 
us,  with  our  methods  and  ideas  of  public  worship,  to  do  any 
permanent  work  until  we  have  provided  ourselves  with  a 
house  of  worship.  For  a  number  of  years  past  we  have 
been  greatly  dependent  on  the  loans  and  gifts  of  the  Amer- 
ican Church  Building  Fund  Commission  in  the  building  of 
our  churches  and  chapels  in  the  Mission  field.  All  con- 
gregations who  receive  the  gifts  of  the  Commission  are 
under  promise  to  make  an  annual  offering  to  the  fund.  I 
hope  the  Clergy  will  not  forget  or  neglect  this  obligation 
which  they  assume  when  they  accept  a  gift  from  this  fund. 
But  more  than  this,  I  hope  that  every  congregation  in  the 
Diocese  may  make  an  annual  offering  to  this  fund.  It  might 
be  good  policy  for  us  to  substitute  an  annual  offering  for 
this  in  place  of  our  Canonical  offering  for  our  Church 
Building  Committee.  This  Diocese  has,  within  a  few  years 
past,  received  $1,400  in  gifts  from  this  source.  I  do  not 
think  that  in  the  twenty  years  of  my  ministry  our  Diocesan 
Committee  has  disbursed  so  much. 

st.  mary's  school. 

We  have  cause  for  much  confident  hope  for  the  future  in 
the  present  aspect  of  the  affairs  of  our  Diocesan  School  for 
girls.  The  Rev.  Mr.  Bratton  has  fully  justified  the  action 
of  the  Trustees  in  putting  him  in  charge,  as  successor  to 
the  Rev.  Dr.  Bennett  Smedes,  and  during  the  year  just  clos- 
ing, has  manifested  to  the  patrons  of  the  School  and  to  the 
public  at  large  his  eminent  fitness  for  all  the  important  du- 
ties devolving  upon  him.  The  Trustees  feel  most  sanguine 
as    to    his   future   administration,  and    are  confident   that 


19 

another  year  will  show  a  marked  upward  movement  in  the 
character  and  success  of  St.  Mary's.  During  the  year  now 
drawing  to  a  close,  he  has  had  but  little  opportunity  to  do 
anything  except  merely  to  preserve  the  existing  conditions. 
The  School,  with  its  course  and  its  teachers,  were  handed 
over  to  him  to  administer.  Hereafter  he  will  have  fuller 
opportunities  to  exercise  his  own  judgment  and  to  develop 
it  along  the  lines  which  may  seem  most  desirable. 

The  report  of  the  Trustees,  to  this  Convention,  will  show 
that  the  most  satisfactory  progress  has  been  made  towards 
discharging  the  balance  of  the  purchase  money  for  the  prop- 
erty. This  is  not  only  desirable  in  itself,  but  it  is  abso- 
lutely necessary  to  free  the  property  from  encumbrance 
before  we  can  ask  for  those  improvements  and  buildings 
which  the  School  needs  in  order  to  do  its  great  work  for  the 
country  and  for  the  Church.  We  should  be  encouraged, 
brethren  of  the  Clergy  and  Laity,  to  redouble  our  efforts  in 
behalf  of  St.  Mary's. 

THE    THOMPSON    ORPHANAGE. 

This  institution  continues  its  course  of  beneficence  and 
commands  the  increasing  confidence  of  our  people.  The 
report  of  its  managers  will  fully  set  forth  its  conditions  and 
its  needs,  so  that  I  need  not  dwell  on  them  here.  It  is  grat- 
ifying, however,  to  note  one  evidence  of  its  increasing  hold 
upon  the  affections  of  our  people.  This  year's  report  shows 
one  donation  of  $2,000  from  ;i  irontleman  of  the  Diocese  of 
East  Carolina,  a  legacy  of  $250  from  another  person  in  that 
Diocese,  and  a  smaller  legacy  from  a  person  in  Germanton. 
These  are  indications  of  an  interest  which  promises  well  for 
this  noble  charity  of  the  Church ;  and  in  my  judgment,  the 
managers  have  most  wisely  determined,  as  far  as  possible, 
to  devote  such  special  gifts  to  building  up  a  permanent  en- 
dowment for  the  work. 

THE    WOMAN'S    AUXILIARY. 

The  women  of  the  Diocese,  through  this  organization, 
continue  to  render  most  valuable  assistance  in  the  work  of 
the  Church  in  almost  all  departments.  I  am  happv  in  the 
thought  that,  as  the  years  go  by,  it  is  establishing  itself  more 
and  more  firmly  in  the  life  and  work  of  the  Church  as  one 
of  the  regular  and  indispensable  institutions  of  every  vigor- 
ous Parish  and  Mission.  In  this  Diocese  I  believe  it  is  stead- 
ily growing  in  usefulness.     I  remember  its  very  small  begin- 


20 

nings  in  North  Carolina,  when  a  parishioner  of  my  own  in 
St.  Peter's  Church,  Charlotte,  first  spoke  to  me  about  mak- 
ing an  attempt  at  a  Diocesan  organization,  and  the  exten- 
sion of  the  work  by  that  means.  I  am  afraid  I  did  not 
give  her  all  the  help  I  might  have  given,  but  I  am  thankful 
to  remember  that  I  did,  in  my  small  way,  encourage  her  to 
proceed,  and  to  secure  the  approval  and  authority  of  Bishop 
Lyman  in  her  undertaking.  I  also  remember  that  at  that 
time  I  had  no  realization  whatever  of  the  value  of  the  work 
of  the  auxiliary,  or  of  the  importance  of  that  Diocesan  or- 
ganization which  we  effected,  I  think,  for  the  first  time  at 
our  Convention  of  1883  in  Charlotte.  The  extent  and  im- 
portance of  the  work  have  increased  with  every  year.  And 
the  value  of  this  work  is  not  to  be  measured  by  the  money 
value  of  its  contributions.  Its  richest  results  are  often  in 
the  hearts  and  lives  of  those  who  thus  come  into  sympa- 
thetic knowledge  of  their  brethren  in  distant  parts  of  our 
own  country  and  in  lands  across  the  sea,  and  thus  help  to 
draw  closer  the  bonds  of  love  and  sympathy  which  should 
bind  the  world  in  one,  and  bring  it  finally  to  its  One  Head, 
while  at  the  same  time  each  heart  learns  the  truth  of  our 
Lord's  words:  "It  is  more  blessed  to  give  than  to  receive." 

OTHER    LAY    SOCIETIES. 

I  do  not  in  these  annual  addresses  give  this  place  of  prom- 
inence to  the  organization  just  mentioned  because  I  under- 
value those  other  orders  of  men  or  of  women  who  in  various 
ways  work  for  the  upbuilding  of  the  Church — the  Daughters 
of  the  King  and  the  Brotherhood  of  St.  Andrew,  which  are  so 
zealous  and  useful  among  us.  These  last  named  are  in  their 
organization  and  purpose  more  closely  associated  with  the 
local  work  of  Parish  and  Mission.  The  Woman's  Auxiliary 
is  by  its  very  name  and  essential  principles  a  part  of  the 
more  general  missionary  machinery  of  the  Diocese,  and  in 
his  Diocesan  work  the  Bishop  is  ever  in  contact  with  it  in 
one  way  or  another.  I  commend  most  heartily  both  the 
Daughters  of  the  King  and  the  Brotherhood  of  St.  Andrew, 
and  trust  that  they  may  continue  and  extend  their  good 
work  of  holding  up  the  hands  of  the  Clergy  and  assisting 
them  in  their  work.  It  does  seem  to  me  that  one  of  our 
present  dangers  is  the  danger  of  over  organization.  I  would 
suggest,  therefore,  my  brethren  of  the  Clergy  and  Laity, 
that,  where  it  is  possible,  we  should  limit  our  local  organi- 
zations to  these,  and  organize  our  lay  work  under  these  two 


21 

societies  and  the  Woman's  Auxiliary.  These  will  usually 
afford  all  the  machinery  needed,  and  the  attention  and  in- 
terest of  the  people  will  not  be  distracted  by  a  multitude  of 
different  societies. 

st.  augustine's  school. 

This  is  not  strictly  a  Diocesan  institution,  but  intended  to 
supply  the  wants  of  our  Colored  Missions  throughout  the 
Dioceses  in  this  part  of  the  South,  and  controlled  by  a  Board 
representing  different  sections  of  the  country.  Yet  our  own 
work  in  this  department  of  it  has  been  so  closely  connected 
with  St.  Augustine's  School  that  I  can  not  pass  over  it  with- 
out mention.  The  Trustees  are  endeavoring  to  improve  it 
and  render  it  more  effective  in  various  directions,  and  espec- 
ially to  develop  its  industrial  department.  The  interest  .of 
the  Church  at  large  has  been  a  good  deal  directed  toward 
St.  Augustine's  within  the  last  two  or  three  years,  and  we 
are  encouraged  to  hope  that  it  will  be  readily  and  judici- 
ously brought  to  a  higher  plane  of  usefulness  and  influence. 

In  this  connection  I  may  add  that  our  work  among  the 
colored  people  is,  on  the  whole,  most  satisfactory  and  hope- 
ful. Our  ministers  command  the  respect  and  confidence  of 
the  communities  in  which  they  labor,  and  I  believe  that  our 
lay  members,  as  a  rule,  commend  the  Church  to  others  by 
their  character  and  godly  conversation,  and  are  an  influence 
for  good  among  their  associates.  I  ask  the  sympathy  and 
co-operation  of  our  white  people  in  all  works  of  piety  and 
of  mercy  carried  on  for  the  benefit  of  our  large  colored 
population. 

I  wish  to  unite  with  the  representatives  of  the  General 
Clergy  Relief,  and  also  of  the  Clergymen's  Retiring  Fund 
Society,  in  calling  the  attention  of  our  people  to  the  imper- 
ative duty  of  being  more  zealous  in  providing  for  our  aged 
and  disabled  Clergymen.  The  first  of  these  organizations 
is  provided  for  by  a  Canon  of  the  General  Convention,  and, 
as  far  as  its  means  extend,  affords  relief  to  disabled  Clergy- 
men and  to  the  widows  and  orphans  of  deceased  Clergymen. 
By  a  resolution  of  the  General  Convention  all  Clergymen 
are  earnestly  requested  to  set  apart  for  this  fund  a  certain 
part  of  the  Communion  Alms — not  less  than  one  per  cent 
and  not  more  than  ten  per  cent — and  to  remit  the  same 
periodically  to  the  Treasurer  of  the  Fund ;  and  also  to  take 
an  offering  for  the  Fund  on  Quinquagesima  Sunday  each 
year.  Certainly  there  could  be  no  more  appropriate  use  of 
our  Communion  Alms  than  this,  and  I  wish  that  this  might 


22 

be  systematically  done  throughout  the  Diocese.  The  Cler- 
gyman's Retiring  Fund  Society  meets  a  somewhat  differ- 
ent necessity,  and  also  deserves  a  liberal  support.  I  need 
not  explain  to  you  the  practical  operation  of  these  two  no- 
ble charities.  I  urge  upon  the  Clergy  to  realize  their  duty 
to  themselves  and  to  their  brethren  in  this  matter,  and  upon 
the  Laity  an  earnest  co  operation  with  their  Clergy  in  what- 
ever may  be  proposed  to  them  in  this  behalf. 

We  have  had  the  privilege  of  meeting  and  listening  to 
one  of  our  most  faithful  and  useful  missionaries  ,in  the  for- 
eign field.  I  can  not  but  feel  that,  as  a  Diocese,  we  are  not 
doing  our  part  in  supporting  our  Foreign  Missions.  I  find 
that  our  people  generally  take  little  personal  interest  in  this 
branch  of  our  work,  either  in  gifts  of  money  or  in  offers  of 
personal  service.  No  Clergyman  and  no  Christian  man 
ought  to  be  satisfied  without  doing  something  each  year 
for  this  particular  work  of  carrying  the  Gospel  to  the  heathen. 
I  would  call  your  attention  to  the  fact  that  within  the  past 
year  much  has  been  done  to  improve  the  administration  of 
our  general  missionary  work,  and  that  especially  our  chief 
missionary  journal,  the  Spirit  of  Missions,  has  been  very 
greatly  improved  and  has  become  a  very  much  more  inter- 
esting and  attractive  publication  than  it  had  been  before. 
The  Corresponding  Secretary  of  the  Board  of  Missions  is- 
Mr.  John  W.  Wood,  so  widely  and  favorably  known  as  the 
General  Secretary  of  the  Brotherhood  of  St.  Andrew  ;  and 
he,  I  believe,  is  practically  the  editor  of  the  Spirit  of  Mis- 
sions. I  most  earnestly  recommend  to  the  Clergy  of  this 
Diocese  and  to  the  Lay  members  of  this  Convention  that 
they  subscribe  to  this  excellent  journal  and  make  themselves 
familiar  with  its  contents.  It  is  sent  free  of  charge  to  the 
Clergy,  and  is  furnished  to  the  Laity  at  a  very  moderate 
price.  We  owe  to  our  Missions  a  loyal  and  liberal  support, 
and  if  we  are  to  support  our  foreign  missionaries  with  our 
sympathy  and  with  our  gifts,  we  must  know  what  they  are 
doing.  And  moreover,  if  we  expect  God's  blessing  upon  us 
at  home,  and  desire  that  men  should  heed  our  voice,  we 
must  show  that  we  are  obedient  to  His  voice  Who  com- 
mands us  to  go  into  all  the  world. 

The  work  before  us  is  great,  but  it  is  not  without  its  en- 
couragements. Our  missionary  work  is  at  many  points- 
most  promising,  and  our  contributions  to  Diocesan  Missions 
are  this  year  more  than  one  thousand  dollars  greater  than 
last  year.  In  several  important  Parishes  debts  of  long, 
standing,  which  have  been  a  burden  and  sometimes  a  men- 


23 

ace  to  the  Parish,  have  been  paid  off.  There  are  now  in 
the  Diocese  four  or  five  churches  ready  for  consecration, 
and  only  waiting  until  I  can  appoint  a  day  for  them.  In 
three  of  our  Parishes  churches  whose  unfortunate  location 
had  been  a  great  hindrance  to  the  work,  have  been  or  are 
about  to  be  removed  to  most  advantageous  sites.  The  num- 
ber of  confirmations,  though  small  by  comparison  with 
those  reported  when  the  Diocese  was  much  larger,  is  greater 
than  it  has  usually  been  within  the  same  territory.  We 
have  very  few  vacant  Parishes  or  congregations,  and  with 
very  few  exceptions  people  and  Clergy  live  and  work  to- 
gether with  sympathy  and  mutual  esteem. 

Perhaps  I  ought  to  mention  that  last  October  I  received 
from  an  old  Clergyman  in  another  Diocese,  and  one  who,  so 
far  as  I  know,  has  had  no  special  connection  or  associa- 
tion with  this,  the  gift  of  $500  to  be  used  at  my  discretion 
in  the  missionary  or  other  similar  work  of  the  Diocese,  with 
the  single  condition  that  no  one  should  know  the  source  of 
the  gift.  The  items  appearing  in  the  report  of  the  Treas- 
urer, as  coming  to  him  by  me,  were  part  of  this  sum.  The 
manner  in  which  the  whole  was  expended  I  laid  before  the 
Executive  Missionary  Committee,  who  unanimously  ap- 
proved the  use  I  had  made  of  the  money,  and  requested  me 
to  convey  to  the  donor  their  thanks  on  behalf  of  the  Dio- 
cese for  his  generosity. 

One  thing  more  and  I  have  done.  I  am  most  thankful  to 
report  to  the  Convention  that  the  unfortunate  state  of 
affairs  existing  for  some  years  at  High  Point  has  been  hap- 
pily remedied.  Some  months  ago  1  addressed  a  communi- 
cation on  the  subject  to  Mr.  C.  A.  Hamner,  to  which  he 
replied  in  a  most  commendable  spirit,  and  we  had  the  mu- 
tual gratification  of  arranging  in  a  satisfactory  manner  the 
matters  in  controversy,  so  that  there  remains,  I  trust  and 
believe,  nothing  of  misunderstanding  on  the  part  of  any 
person  concerned.  In  this  settlement,  the  members  of  the 
Executive  Missionary  Committee  and  the  Rev.  J.  C.  Davis, 
D.D.,  of  Concord,  rendered  essential  service. 

And  now,  brethren,  I  have  come  to  the  end  of  my  ac- 
count of  my  year's  labors,  and  of  such  matters  as  I  have 
thought  necessary  at  this  time  to  bring  to  your  attention. 
Of  the  insufficiency  of  the  service  and  of  the  faults  of  the 
servant,  he  is  much  more  sensible  than  you  can  be.  Let  me 
beg  that  every  mark  of  weakness  or  error  you  may  see  in 
him  or  in  his  brethren  in  the  ministry,  may  serve  to  stir 


24 

you  up  to  greater  zeal  and  faithfulness,  that  you  may  rem- 
edy their  faults  and  supply  their  lack  of  service. 

And  may  God  forgive  all  of  us  all  our  faults  and  failures, 
and  by  His  Holy  Spirit  build  up  His  Kingdom  in  our  hearts 
and  in  this  Diocese.  Jos.  Blotjnt  Cheshire, 

Bishop  of  North  Carolina. 


